Discover cards are currently not available on CNBC Select and links have been redirected to our credit card marketplace where you can review offers from other issuers like American Express or Chase. You can also check out our list of best credit cards for alternative options.
If you have fair credit (generally a FICO Score of 580 to 669), you don't have to settle for a no-frills credit card with high fees. You can still enjoy rewards programs, helpful perks and no annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
Below, CNBC Select reviews the best credit cards available for fair or average credit. (See our methodology for more on how we made our choices.)
Card issuers don't disclose exact credit score requirements, so the ranges provided should only be used as a guideline. If you're unsure if you'll qualify, fill out a pre-qualification form to check your odds.
Best for cash back
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card available to those with limited/fair credit, which makes it surprising that it features an elevated 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Simple rewards structure with no caps or categories to track
- Available if you have fair credit
- High APR
- Has an annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Who's this for? Many of the best cash-back cards require good or excellent credit, but the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is available to those with lower credit scores and offers generous cash-back rewards on purchases.
Standout benefit: If you have a weak credit score, it's harder to qualify for a credit card that offers decent rewards. However, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns a competitive 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limit on how much you can earn.
Best for welcome offer
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an unusually rewarding secured credit card that's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a lucrative welcome offer.
Standout benefit: Discover will match all of the cashback new Discover it® Secured Credit Card members earn in the first year. The card earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Once you factor in the bonus cash back you'll earn at the end of your first year, you're effectively earning 4% back in the bonus categories and 2% back everywhere else, which is exceptional for a secured credit card.
Best for no fees
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
Rewards
1% cash back on eligible purchases right away and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments; 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
28.24% - 30.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair, Good, No Credit
Terms apply.
Pros
- No credit history required (if you do have a credit history, that does factor into the credit decision)
- No fees
- Generous cash-back rewards of up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments
Cons
- No special financing offers
- No welcome bonus
Who's this for? The Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa Credit Card can save you money because it has no annual fees, no late payment fees and no foreign transaction fees. You get all of that on top of cash-back rewards.
Standout benefit: You can earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, which rises to 1.25% cash back after six on-time monthly payments and 1.5% cash back after you make 12 on-time monthly payments. This is a great way to encourage responsible behavior while earning cash back for everyday purchases. Cardholders also earn 2% to 10% cash back on purchases at select merchants.
Best for students
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
Rewards
Earn up to 10% random cashback on all qualifying purchases; Up to 15% merchant cashback at 29,000+ partner merchants; Earn an additional 0.1% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases with Firstcard Standard; an additional 0.5% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases with Firstcard+; or an additional 1% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$4/month or $48/year for Firstcard Standard; $7/month or $84/year for Firstcard+; or $10/month or $120/year for Firstcard Premium
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
0%
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
3% with Firstcard Standard; 1.5% with Firstcard+; or 0% with Firstcard Premium
Credit needed
None
Terms apply
Pros
- No credit check or Social Security Number needed
- Earn interest and cash back
Cons
- There's no free membership plan
Who's this for? The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card is ideal for students looking to earn rewards, earn interest and establish credit.
Standout benefit: The Firstcard Credit Builder Card is a secured credit card with an interesting twist. Instead of making an upfront security deposit, you'll get a high-yield checking account and your credit limit is based on your account balance. Depending on which plan you sign up for, you can earn up to a 4% APY, and you'll earn additional cash-back rewards on top of the interest. (Earn up to 4.00% APY on deposits with Firstcard Premium" and/or "Earn up to 2.00% APY on deposits with Firstcard+)
More on our top credit cards for fair or average credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card can help you build credit and earn rewards at the same time.
Rewards
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$39
Notable perks
This card has no foreign transaction fees.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a secured credit card that offers generous rewards, including a unique welcome offer with no cap to how much cash back you can earn.
Rewards
- 2% back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1% back
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
Secured credit cards require an upfront security deposit, which also determines your credit limit. Automatic reviews start at seven months to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it useful for traveling abroad.
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card isn't just easy to get, it also has fewer fees than most credit cards.
Rewards
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- 1.25% cash back on all purchases after making six on-time monthly payments
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The application process for the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card differs from most credit cards. Applicants may be asked to link their bank accounts, and then WebBank reviews the data, taking into account bill payments and earnings. This allows Petal to determine your eligibility from more than just your credit history. And if you have no credit history, that's no problem — it's not required. (It's one of the reasons this card is on our list of best cards for rebuilding your credit history.) However, if you do have a credit history, that does factor into the credit decision.
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card is a paid membership program that provides a path to earning interest and cash-back rewards.
Rewards
- Up to 15% cash back at 29,000 partner merchants
- Up to 10% Random Cashback on eligible purchases
- 0.1% to 1% unlimited cashback on all other eligible credit card purchases, depending on your card
- Earn 0.75% to 4% APY on bank account balances (Earn up to 4.00% APY on deposits with Firstcard Premium" and/or "Earn up to 2.00% APY on deposits with Firstcard+)
Welcome bonus
If you subscribe annually to Firstcard+ before January 1, 2025, you can enjoy Firstcard Premium at the current Firstcard+ price ($48/year) for one year – saving you $72!
Annual fee
- Firstcard Standard: $4.99/month or $48/year
- Firstcard+: $8.99/month or $84/year for
- Firstcard Premium: $12.99/month or $120/year
Notable perks
This card has no late fees, no overdraft fees and no foreign transaction fees. Plus, the money in your bank account is FDIC-insured and earns interest, which is unusual for a secured credit card.
FAQs
Is it easy to get approved for a card with fair credit?
While many of the best credit cards require good or excellent credit, there are credit cards that give people with fair or average credit better qualification chances.
What kind of card can you get with fair credit?
Credit cards designed for people with fair or average credit can still offer rewards programs, helpful perks, no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees, though they may have higher interest rates.
What are the best credit cards for fair credit with instant approval?
Most credit card issuers offer an instant decision on whether you're approved or denied, including many of the ones listed above. If you don't receive instant approval, you can call the bank to see if they're missing any of your information and give them a compelling case of why you should be approved.
Bottom line
The best credit cards for consumers with fair or average credit cover a range of features and benefits. You can earn rewards, welcome bonuses and take advantage of intro APR financing. You get all this plus the opportunity to rebuild your credit as you pay down debt and consistently make on-time monthly payments.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for fair and average credit.
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Our methodology
To determine which credit cards are the best value for anyone with fair credit, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to those with no credit or who are rebuilding their credit. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.
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Read more
Petal 2 Visa Credit Card issued by WebBank.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the Discover it Secured Credit Card, click here.
